A Charmed Life

When Scott and I first got married, we decided that travel would be a priority in our life. We hoped to visit someplace new at least every other year if we could. Now of course, traveling means shopping! SOUVENIRS! You never can have to many pecan logs from Stuckey's or snow globes with palm trees from The Shell Factory. Actually, yes you can.. believe me on this point and save yourself the upset tummies and dusty knick knacks.

However, we needed something tangible to show. Our decision was to buy a nice piece of artwork for our home, local to the region, from every "large" trip we took. We now proudly display such diverse items as a handmade Hopi Kachina doll and a framed painting of a blue flower to which we both were drawn.

But, I still needed a little kitsch in my life. The charms above fill that void. I now try to pick one up on every trip! Although they haven't made it on to a bracelet yet, they are important to me. Each tiny piece of silver represents time with my husband, a beloved place to visit, and carefree memories. The journey of my life on a chain - linked, full circle, for all time.

The current charms and their significance:
A diamond ring in the shape of Mickey Mouse's head - Scott and I became engaged at Disney World
Trolley Car - our honeymoon was spent in Gatlinburg where we were able to ride the trolley
The Bird Girl - a trip to Savannah, one of our favorite places to go. She was pictured on the cover of the book Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil which takes place in Savannah
Charleston Row Houses - we combined a side trip to Charleston during one of our Savannah adventures
Plumeria flower - 1st anniversary in Hawaii
Plain Flower - no real significance. I just liked the charm. However, it was bought on the Hawaii trip and since we island hopped between Maui and Kauai I thought 2 flowers were appropriate
Maple Leaf - a trip to Niagra Falls
Cinderella's Castle - We visit Disney so often that one charm just wasn't enough
Cactus - one of our best vacations ever was spent in Carefree, Arizona
Saddle - a quick trip to San Antonio!
Pelican - most recently bought in FL during my high school reunion

He's a winner!

I'm back at work today and not feeling to creative with my journaling, but I did want to mention that Scott won three awards this past weekend!

After returning Wednesday from vacationing in FL, he turned right around on Thursday and headed to Gatlinburg. He is a member of the Chevy Avalanche Fan Club and was in fact the founder of the Middle Tennessee chapter. Although he stepped down from his post a couple of years ago, he still attends events. They were having the annual National meeting in Gatlinburg and he was able to at least go for the weekend. Luckily he did! He ended up walking away with awards for "Best 4x4", "People's Choice", and "Avalanche Spirit". He was very happy when he returned home.

When he first started in the truck club, I just sort of rolled my eyes and let him do his "guy" things. However, I have went with him to many events and have helped him host large gatherings here in our state. Last year we hosted "Music City Mayhem" and had over 97 trucks attend from all over the US. We rented out Titan's Stadium for a day and had the truck show, banquet, raffle, and awards there. I can honestly say this "club" is a true family. We have made true and lasting friendships with people both local and far. That's one of the reasons I was glad he still got to attend part of the weekend in Gatlinburg. He had given up a good portion of the meet to take me to my reunion in FL. If that's not love - I don't know what is.

Where did 20 years go?

One week ago today I was at Portofino Restaurant in Port Charlotte, FL drinking, dancing, and eating with great friends. Had it really been 20 years since I had seen most of them? Hmmm...most of them look the same. We are laughing and talking as easily as if we had been in class together earlier that day. We can't be almost 40 - we are all still 18! (If you doubt me, just look at Michelle Mazzoni, I swear she hasn't aged one day since graduation.) Oh wait, here's an indication that I'm not still in high school - I just introduced my HUSBAND to my first BOYFRIEND. They are shaking hands...everyone is laughing...yep, not in high school anymore. It was a wonderful weekend filled with great stories and memories and I admit that when I gave my last hug to Jeremy as we were leaving the picnic, I had to blink back tears. But, I'm glad that I can always have those safe, sweet memories of my teen years. Because of the friends and experiences I had back them - I became the woman I am today. I met and married the man I love. I'm living the life I was meant to have.

I'm struggling to find the proper words to express what I'm feeling as I sit here still enmeshed in nostalgia but loving my present. So I am going to quote an entry a friend wrote in my yearbook a couple of days before graduation. There were so many people to whom I would have liked to have said the same thing: "...may each person you meet color your world. There is no better canvas than yours my friend, and I hope we have given the painting a good start. Personally, I don't want to put down the brush, but it's my turn to allow others the privilege of helping you shape your life."

Yes, we have changed since we all stood together so many years ago in our red caps and gowns, but we will always share that bond and that is what keeps us the same.

Alive once more!

I've decided to resurrect this VERY OLD blog. I've been posting a journal elsewhere, but it is on a private site and I'm going to go back to using this one for more "public" entries. Updates coming soon in the next couple of days....